i February 4, 1918. 



* 379 

|f K f ORTO RICO AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, 

D. W. MAY, Agronomist in Charge. 

MAYAGUEZ, P. R. 



py l 



Bulletin No. 24. 



THE MANGO IN PORTO RICO. 



BY 

C. F. KINMAN, 

Horticulturist. 



UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF 

STATES RELATIONS SERVICE, 
Office of Experiment Stations. 

V. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1918. 



Issued February 4, 1918. 

PORTO RICO AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, 

D. W. MAY, Agronomist in Charge. 

MAYAGUEZ, P. R. 



Bulletin No. 24. 



THE MANGO IN PORTO RICO. 



BY 



C. F. KINMAN, 

Horticulturist. 



UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF 

STATES RELATIONS SERVICE, 
Office of Experiment Stations. 

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1818. 



PORTO RICO AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 

[Under the supervision of A. C. True, Director of the States Relations Service, United 
States Department of Agriculture.] 

E. W. Allen, Chief of Office of Experiment Stations. 
Walter H. Evans, Chief of Division of Insular Stations, Office of Experiment 

Stations. n 



STATION STAFF. 



D. W. May, Agronomist in Charge. 
P. L. Gile, Chemist. 
C. F. Kinman, Horticulturist. 

R. H. Van Zwaluwenburg, Entomologist. 

E. W. Brandes, 1 Plant Pathologist. 

H. O. Henricksen, Assistant in Extension "Work. 

W. A. Mace, Assistant in Extension Work. 

T. B. McClelland, Assistant Horticulturist. 

J. O. Carrero, Assistant Chemist. 

H. E. Thomas, Assistant Plant Pathologist. 

W. P. Snyder, Assistant in Plant Breeding. 

C. Alemar, Jr., Clerk. 



^z-^ S 



LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



Porto Rico Agricultural Experiment Station, 

Mayaguez, P. R., March SI, 1917. 
Sir: I have the honor to submit herewith a manuscript on the Mango in 
Porto Rico, by C. F. Kinman, horticulturist. The information embodied in this 
report gives the results of painstaking efforts through several years to introduce 
and propagate improved mangoes. These results indicate that the mango will 
take an important place in the Porto Rican fruit industry, which has made 
phenomenal progress during the past decade. I recommend that this manu- 
script be issued as Bulletin No. 24 of this station. 
Respectfully, 

D. W. Mat, 
Agronomist in Charge. 
Dr. A. C. True, 

Director States Relations Service, 

United States Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. 0, 

Recommended for publication. 
A. C. True, Director. 

Publication authorized. 
D. F. Houston, 

Secretary of Agriculture. 



fiQn lfiiira. 



LIBRARY $) CONGRESS 

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OCT 101922 

n , m i aamwwmritrrn ittmmmmm 



THE MANGO IN PORTO RICO. 



CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Introduction 3 

Soil 4 

Climate 5 

Blossoming 7 

Propagation 9 

Importance of classification 13 



Tage. 

Description of varieties U 

Weights of different parts of fruits 23 

Protection against fruit flies 24 

Harvesting and packing 24 

Mangoes as ornamentals 28 

Summary 29 



INTRODUCTION. 

The mango industry in Porto Rico has developed practically with- 
out attention or interest on the part of the inhabitants, although the 
fruit is one of the most important of the island, as it is of most trop- 
ical countries. The common types, all of which grow without culti- 
vation, are as a rule prolific, the fruit of the best sorts being free from 
serious insect pests and diseases, but all are of ordinary or poor flavor 
with an abundance of objectionable fiber in the flesh. With few ex- 
ceptions the fruits are small, and this, together with their poor keep- 
ing qualities, makes them unsatisfactory as a commercial crop. 

The production of the superior varieties of mangoes, notably those 
from India and the East Indies, is a new industry but one worthy of 
greatly increased interest in Porto Rico, as the climate and soils are 
suitable and the best markets of the United States may be reached 
within a very few days. Home markets for this fruit could be 
quickly developed also, as the liking for the mango is universal 
among the inhabitants of the island and large quantities of the com- 
mon types are consumed as soon as they are ripe enough to be edible. 

The problems confronting the commercial production of superior 
mangoes here are in many respects those of a new industry. Meth- 
ods of asexual propagation are not known among the planters, but 
chance seedlings happening to spring up in desirable places are 
protected to furnish the future supply of fruit. The trees have not 
been cultivated nor the suitability of the soil tested. The present 
method of marketing is to shake the crop from the tree and to load 
it loosely into cars or wagons for transportation to local markets 
or those in other parts of the island. Tests with fruits of superior 

(3) 



varieties show that they will keep longer after harvest than common 
kinds, but that they must be handled carefully in order to reach 
distant markets in attractive condition. There is a wide difference 
between varieties in vigor of trees and in size and quality of fruit, 
and as the general conditions in Porto Rico are suited to the produc- 
tion of this fruit, the proper selection of varieties for planting seems 
to be the most important consideration. The success of an orchard 
will depend mainly upon the planting of prolific varieties suited to 
the locality and with fruit of a size and quality to command a ready 
market. 

As the observations here reported are drawn from the work of sev- 
eral years during which trees of many varieties have been imported, 
propagated, and in some cases brought into satisfactory production, 
they should prove of value to those who expect to plant mangoes for 
sale or for home use. Over 40 varieties which have not yet fruited 
will be discussed in subsequent reports. 

SOU. 

Porto Rico has a very wide range of soil types, a given type, how- 
ever, occurring in only small areas in any section. As the mango 
tree is found in abundance iri almost all parts of Porto Rico, the 
quality of soil in which it is planted seems to be an unimportant 
factor in its growth, provided the depth of the soil is considerable. 
A shallow soil underlain with stone or hardpan, although suffi- 
ciently deep to produce shrubs or other low-growing wild vegeta- 
tion, will not satisfy the needs of the deep-rooted mango, whose 
growth in such ground will be slow and its yield poor, at least after 
the first few years. The application of fertilizers, however, will ma- 
terially decrease the depth of soil required. While the mango is less 
affected by the quality of the soil than many other fruit trees, it is 
sensitive to an overabundance of soil moisture. It is never vigorous 
or prolific in low, poorly drained lands or on higher planes where 
the water level is near the surface throughout long periods. Where 
subdrainage is poor, the vigorous roots which penetrate to some 
depth during a dry season are always severely injured if not killed 
by the excess of water during the period of heavy rains lasting for 
several months each year in almost all parts of Porto Rico. Sub- 
drainage is generally poor through the rolling districts and also 
in the western part of the island where the mango is most plentiful, 
though, in the latter district practically all of the mango trees are 
found growing at the brink of steep hillsides, on short, narrow 
knolls and ridges, near road cuts or on grades, etc. A ditch only 
2 or 3 feet deep will often cause a tree growing at its edge to make 
a normal-growth and bear good crops. Where the soil is loose, with 



good filtration of water, large and prolific trees may be found on 
level land or even in depressions where water remains above the 
surface a few hours after heavy rains. Mango trees are often found 
on very light, unfertile sand, which may be a few feet in depth and 
still produce flourishing growth if the subsoil is suitable. As the 
mango, like most other fruit trees, thrives best on a deep, loose loam 
with good drainage and a high percentage of humus, those who 
intend planting it commercially should secure, if possible, this type 
of soil. Imported mango trees planted on such land in Porto Rico 
have reached a height of 26 feet and a spread of 34 feet in 12 years, 
while others of the same variety, receiving an equal amount of rain- 
fall litit growing in a soil with poor subdrainage, are at the same age 
16 feet tall and 21 feet in spread. However, the latter have been 
more prolific. 

CLIMATE. 

The temperature in Porto Rico is well suited to the production of 
mangoes, for, as in other islands in this region, it is swept by warm 
trade wind and sea breezes which keep it always warm enough for 
the best growth of the trees. This is especially true in the low-lying 
districts, those which lie between the sea and the mountains of the 
interior having an average daily maximum temperature varying from 
84° F. in winter to 89° in summer and a minimum from 66° F. in 
winter to 73° in summer, an excellent temperature for the mango, 
which is more tropical than subtropical in its needs. Through the 
interior of the island the temperature averages from 2° to 3° cooler 
during the day and from 5° to 6° cooler at night. At the highest 
elevations, a number of which are over 2,000 feet, the temperature 
during the coldest months is occasionally in the lower fifties. Here 
the mango trees grow well but fruit very poorly, the small crops 
probably resulting directly from the temperature. 

While the temperature is even and satisfactory, the rainfall and 
general humidity vary considerably in different districts. In some 
places, especially through the interior and along the northern slopes, 
the rainfall is too great during the mango blossoming season for the 
best fruit production. Along the western and southern coasts the 
greater part of the year's rainfall occurs during summer and fall, and 
during late winter and spring the rainfall is always light and the 
drought usually severe. Here the crop of mangoes is almost invari- 
ably heavy. The trees make a satisfactory growth unless the drought 
is very long and severe, as they are capable of thriving on rather 
slight moisture as well as of withstanding a little excess moisture 
without visible injury. 

Where the drainage is good the only time at which the rains have 
proved detrimental is while the trees are blossoming. Rains are 



always injurious to mango flowers, as they wash away the pollen, 
injure the stigma, and cause the pollen to remain damp, thereby im- 
proving conditions for the growth of the anthracnose fungus which 
is so destructive to the blossoms. The mechanical injury is easily 
effected, for the one pollen-bearing stamen and the prominent pistil 
are not protected by the small, widely divergent petals. The moisten- 
ing of the pollen by the intermittent rains and low clouds, which 
drift for some distance down the slopes of the highest hills of Porto 
Rico, encourages the growth of the blossom-destroying fungus, and 
this, together with the mechanical injury due to the heavy rainfall 
in these sections during the mango blossoming season, is probably 
responsible for the low yields and frequent fruit failures. 

The importance of moisture conditions should not be overlooked 
in planting mangoes. Fortunately for the prospective orchardist the 
rainfall in Porto Rico for corresponding months in different years 
varies little, this constancy permitting the selection of a locality 
where the mango blossoms during a season of light rainfall. Where 
irrigation water is obtainable, a dry section would prove most satis- 
factory as the blossoms would set fruit regularly and the fruiting 
tendency could be encouraged by the proper application of water. 

The effect of wind on mango blossoms is also probably important, 
although seldom referred to. Its stimulating effect may induce blos- 
soming and its drying effect no doubt enables this fruit to set. For 
a number of consecutive seasons it has been noted at Mayaguez that 
trees situated in exposed places always bear more heavily on the 
branches facing the prevailing winds, often producing a large per- 
centage of their crop on the windward side. The drying action of 
the wind probably protects the blossoms from fungus attack, since 
the windward side of the tree is dry much earlier in the morning 
than the leeward side or than trees in low, wooded, or otherwise pro- 
tected places, where the heavy tropical dews remain on the leaves 
until late in the forenoon. As the prevailing winds during February 
and March, the principal mango blossoming season, are from the 
northeast, the morning sun may be as necessary as the winds for 
inducing blossoming, although the section of the tree facing the wind 
is more prolific than that exposed directly to the morning sun, which 
is south of east at this season. The stimulating effect of wind on 
the growth of the branches is probably an important factor in the 
production of blossoms, as the wood growth and inflorescence are 
much heavier on the side of the tree facing the wind than on other 
portions, sometimes causing a very one-sided development (PI. I, 
fig. 1). This effect is more pronounced on imported varieties than 
on uncultivated Porto Rican types and more so on some of the 
imported varieties than on others. Those which afford the most 



striking examples of this in both growth and fruit production are 
Bennett, Paheri, Sandersha, and Cambodiana. While newly placed 
buds and grafts and small trees just transplanted should be protected 
from strong drying winds, the orchard site should be well exposed 
to the prevailing winds and morning sun. 

BLOSSOMING. 

Although in some parts of Porto Rico climatic conditions are not 
favorable to the setting of a crop of fruit, the mango is well adapted 
for fruit production, as it blossoms at intervals throughout the 
spring and thereby improves its chances of meeting suitable weather 
for pollination. From observations already made, it appears that 
the imported kinds have a longer blossoming season than the common 
sorts, as some of them bloom almost continuously for ten or more 
weeks when conditions do not permit the setting of a crop before 
the end of that time. To this class belong Sandersha, Totafari, and 
Amini, a single tree of the first having blossomed as early as De- 
cember 10 and as late as May 10 the following spring, with the pro- 
duction of two heavy crops and a number of light crops of blossoms 
during the intervening time. Cambodiana, Bennett, Bulbulchasm, 
Sufaida, and others are varieties with long blossoming seasons. 

In the southern and western portions of the island the mango- 
ripening season is usually much longer than in other sections, as the 
drought which occurs during the late winter favors the fertilization 
of early and late blossoms. Under normal conditions only a very 
small percentage of the early blossoms produce fruit, while good 
crops have resulted from extremely late blossoms. As few varieties 
have been cultivated in Porto Rico over a long enough period to 
determine blossoming habits, close attention should be given the 
untested kinds and a careful selection made based on these habits 
before an extensive planting is made. 

Where mango trees grow vigorously, as in nearly all parts of 
Porto Rico, they are inclined to bear no crop or very small ones for 
a season or more after they are of sufficient size and age to produce 
heavily. Varieties or individual trees which do not bear when 
sufficiently mature may be induced to blossom by any of a number 
of methods. Girdling, branch pruning, and root pruning are com- 
mon practices, but they should be used with caution and moderation, 
as a tree may easily be so severely injured as to prevent its bearing 
for one or more seasons. Pruning back the ends of the branches to 
induce blossoming has been practiced with good results at the station. 
In the operation, from a few inches to a foot of the end of the 
branch was removed, depending upon the stage of maturity of the 



8 

wood, leaving a few nodes from which the leaves had not fallen. 
From these nodes blossoms developed profusely, no blossoms appear- 
ing on untreated branches. To secure best results, the pruning 
should be done in the late summer or fall, several months before 
the blossoming time. This method should be employed on branches 
which are too low or too crowded or on those which would have to 
be removed later to improve the shape of the tree, as after a branch 
is pruned, it makes little growth for several weeks or months or 
even for a year or more after the fruit ripens, and by this time it 
may be well overgrown by surrounding branches. 

As good results have been obtained from- girdling as from other 
methods. A branch 1 to 3 inches in diameter was selected on each 
of a number of trees and a band of bark removed in September. 
These branches produced good crops in the following spring, even 
when no fruits at all were borne on the remainder of the tree. Such 
favorable results, however, were obtained on varieties which are 
inclined to bear well and where the band of bark removed was wide 
enough to prevent the new bark from growing over the area too 
rapidly. Bands one-eighth and even one-quarter of an inch in 
diameter were overgrown so quickly that no effect was seen on the 
branch. Bands from one-half to three-quarters of an inch produce 
the best results, as they do not heal over until after the blossoming 
season, the callus growing downward over the wound at the rate of 
1 inch a year. The photograph in Plate II, figure 1, was taken in 
April and shows a branch of Paheri, from which a band of bark 
1£ inches in width was taken in September. This branch bore 39 
fruits of extra large size and was the only branch of the tree to bear. 
The effect on Cambodiana, Bennett, and Amini was equally striking. 
Girdling the branches of 10-year-old trees of Davy's and Madras, 
varieties which have so far been very unproductive, some of the 
trees having never borne, did not induce fruiting. As removing 
enough bark to induce fruiting is very injurious to the branch, this 
practice is most profitably employed on undesirable branches which 
are to be removed later. 

Root pruning has been recommended, although no definite results 
have been noted from experiments with it. It is best accomplished 
by cutting into the soil with a sharp spade about 2 feet inside the 
tips of the branches. In extreme cases the cutting may encircle the 
tree to a depth of 8 to 10 inches in heavy soil and even deeper in 
light soil where the root system is considerably below the surface. 
Cutting at such intervals as to sever the roots for one-half to two- 
thirds of the distance around the tree will induce blossoming under 
normal conditions without seriously checking the growth or thrift 
of the tree. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt Station. 



Plate I. 





I o 

E 

II 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt. Station. 



Plate II. 





PROPAGATION. 

Where it is desired to reproduce the qualities of the parent tree, 
simple and satisfactory methods for general use in mango propaga- 
tion are inarching, or approach grafting, and bark grafting. Seed- 
ling trees of Cambodiana and a few other types will, it is claimed, 
produce fruit very similar to that of the parent and sufficiently 
uniform for orchard use, but seedlings should not be used for general 
planting until more information regarding the habits of the differ- 
ent types has been secured. 

When any of the asexual methods of propagation are used, success 
in the work and development of the tree will depend mainly upon 
the seedling stock. To secure good stocks seed just taken from the 
fruit or those which have been removed only a few days should be 
used, as the seed lose their viability quickly and are very liable to 
decay after being removed from the fruits. To insure prompt 
germination and normal plants the seed should be husked before 
planting, care being taken not to injure them in any way. This may 
be quickly done by peeling off with a sharp knife a narrow strip of 
the husk which may then be readily opened. The husks of many of 
the East Indian varieties are very thin and easily removed, but those 
of the uncultivated Porto Rican types are very thick and tough and 
their removal difficult. Delay in growth and injury to plants are 
proportionately greater where the seed coat is not taken off. 

To test the effect of taking off the husk three lots of 100 seeds 
each were planted, one with the husks removed, one with the husks 
cut on one side, and one with the husks entire. The seeds, all very 
uniform as to size and shape, had been taken from uniform fruits 
of the native variety Blanco, which has a very thick seed coat, and 
planted immediately after removal from the fruit. The following 
table gives the detailed record of the germination : 





Effect of different seed treatments 


on germination. 






Number of days after planting. 




Percentage of seeds 
germinated. 




Husked. 


Opened 
on one 
side. 


Un- 
husfced. 


10 


94 

98 
98 
98 
98 


18 
68 
74 
88 
90 


None. 


17 


14 


24 


38 


31 


86 


38 


86 







This shows not only that the total number of husked seed germi- 
nated was somewhat greater than of unhusked seed but that the time 
required for germination was much shorter. Where the husks were 
13137°— 18 2 



10 

not removed, the development of the plants was, in the majority of 
the cases, hindered, often so severely that they were discarded as 
valueless. Plate III shows plants of the same age from plantings 
of husked and unhusked seed, one an extreme specimen from an 
unhusked seed which is typical of about 30 per cent of the plants 
from seed planted in this manner (fig. 1, center). 

Kernels which produce a single plant are preferable to those send- 
ing up a number of plants, as the seedlings are more thrifty and 
vigorous and are ready for use as stocks in a short time, while where 
a number of seedlings are produced they are very slender and slow 
growing and in many cases never become satisfactory for working. 
Among the wild Porto Kican types grown, Rosa and Redondo 
seldom produced more than one seedling, while all of the other more 
common ones produced two or more. The seedlings of East Indian 
varieties produce large thrifty plants which are preferable as stocks, 
as they grow faster than the Porto Rican kinds, and during the 
few years they have been under observation no undesirable qualities 
have been noted. Among the varieties tested Sandersha, Totafari, 
Alphonse, and Amini produce only one plant per seed and are most 
satisfactory as stocks. Cambodiana seedlings are vigorous, but, as 
from two to seven plants grow from a single seed, care must be 
taken to remove all but one of the seedlings soon after they appear, 
if a good stock plant is desired. 

Whether the seeds are planted in pots or in the nursery the soil 
should be a rich loam with plenty of sand to insure good drainage, 
for if the growth of the seedling is checked by lack of food or excess 
of soil moisture it will be permanently injured and often will not 
recover its vigor sufficiently to be of value as a stock. The seeds re- 
quire shallow planting to prevent suffocation. 

GRAFTING. 

When seedlings are somewhat thicker than a lead pencil (about f 
inch in diameter) and the bark has assumed a grayish color (about 
seven months after planting the seed) they are of a convenient size 
for grafting. Then as soon as they make a flush — that is, as soon 
as they are in a growing condition and the new red leaves are just 
appearing — they are ready for use. If the plants are thrifty they 
will remain in good condition for several days and often two weeks. 

Branches must be selected for scions which have not made a recent 
flush, but are just on the point of starting a new growth. Such tips 
have rather mature wood and the buds nearest the end are swollen 
but not quite ready to open into growth. They should be cut below 
the third or fourth node. If any of the buds just below this point, 
on wood of the same age, are swollen preparatory to opening, the sec- 



11 

tion bearing them will also be satisfactory and sometimes more de- 
sirable than the tip section for grafting, as this wood is often better 
developed. If at the time the stocks are just starting a new growth 
there are no branch tips suitable for scions, the upper axillary buds 
can often be forced into condition in a week or more by cutting off 
the tips of the branches. 

To make the graft the seedling should be cut off by a smooth 
transverse stroke a few inches above the crown, a perpendicular slit 
about an inch in length being cut barely through the bark on one 
side of the upper end of the remaining stump (PL II, fig. 2). The 
scion, which is prepared by cutting the lower end with a smooth 
slanting surface about an inch in length having a sharp, wedge- 
shaped point, is then forced gently down under the lips of the slit in 
the bark of the stock. The scion should be fitted firmly into place 
in order to have the cambium of the stock and scion in close contact 
over as long a surface as possible. To hold the scion in place a cotton 
string is wound firmly around the graft, commencing at the top of 
the stock to prevent forcing the scion out of place. A waterproof 
paper should then be wrapped around the scion and the upper end 
of the stock and folded over the top of the scion to secure fairly uni- 
form humidity and to prevent an excess of moisture from entering 
and causing decay. It is important to perform the operation rapidly 
enough to prevent any drying of the cut surfaces. 

In about three weeks the scions should have started growth. The 
paper should then be removed, as it is injurious to the new growth, 
and the cotton string used for binding the scion should be cut as soon 
as the union is well formed. 

INARCHING. 

When it is planned to propagate by inarching, the seedling to be 
used as a stock should be in a large pot (PI. Ill, fig. 2) or box. To 
secure a good stock it is best to plant the seed in the receptacle to be 
used rather than to attempt to transplant young seedlings. Although 
the success of the operation does not depend so entirely as in grafting 
upon the condition of the stock and scion, these should be as nearly 
as possible in the same stages of growth as for grafting and the 
seedlings should be about the same size and age as those for grafting 
if outdoor work is practiced. For indoor work, where moisture 
can be controlled, or in the orchard if climatic conditions are favor- 
able, both seedling and scion need be only a few weeks old. A 
very dry atmosphere and excessive wind, which are common in 
practically all sections of Porto Kico during parts of the year, 
make it impossible to use such young plants. 

Before the operation is performed the seedling should be placed 
near the branch to be inarched, either on the ground or on a scaffold, 



12 

and the pot so fastened as to prevent disturbance by the winds. Then 
a thin strip of bark and wood from 3 to 5 inches in length should be 
removed with a sharp knife from the trunk of the seedling and one of 
similar shape from the scion, leaving a few inches of the end of the 
scion above the cut section. The cut surfaces are then placed to- 
gether, so that the bark and cambium meet over as long an area as 
possible, and are tied firmly with cord or raffia. It is not necessary 
to apply grafting cloth, wax, or similar materials in inarching. At 
the time of inarching, the tip should be removed from the stock, and 
in three or four weeks the seedling should be cut back within one or 
two nodes of the union. When the union is well 'formed, the seedling 
should be cut off just above, and the inarched branch just below, the 
union. When the plant is cut from the parent tree it should be shel- 
tered from the sun for a few days, then placed in partial shade a 
week or more and watered frequently. If weather conditions are fav- 
orable, it will be ready for planting in a permanent place in a few 
weeks. 

TOP-WORKING OLD TREES. 

There are thousands of large, thrifty, uncultivated mango trees 
growing in Porto Rico, some bearing almost worthless fruit and as 
many others producing fruit of poor quality, all of which could be 
grafted and made to bear superior fruit within a few years. (PI. IV, 
fig. 1. ) To accomplish this the branches should be cut back nearly to 
the trunk (PI. IV, fig. 2), and when the new branches which spring 
from adventitious buds are sufficiently mature — that is, in 6 to 8 
months — they may be grafted in the manner described above. Al- 
though a great number of new branches start from near the point 
where the old branches were removed, only the best of these should be 
selected for grafting, all the others being removed except a few near 
the grafts to protect these from wind and sun. While it is some- 
times recommended to leave a few of the large branches when cutting 
back the old trees, this has been found unnecessary in Porto Rico, as 
better results have been obtained where all the branches were re- 
moved. Where large branches are allowed to remain, the new growth 
sent out from the stumps of the removed branches is always less 
vigorous and is not ready for grafting in very dry weather for sev- 
eral months after that on trees with all of the old branches removed. 

A field nursery is seldom planted in the mango-growing countries, 
especially in the West Indies, but experiments with field nursery 
stock have proved the practicability of shipping the small trees short 
distances and have shown especially the value of a field nursery to 
growers who are planting a mango grove on their own fruit planta- 
tion. If the land is well prepared, the seedlings will make nearly 
if not fully as good a growth in the field nursery as in pots. The 



Bui 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt. Station. 



Plate III. 




Fig. 1.— Mango Seedlings; Plant on Left Grown from Seed with 
Husk Removed, Others from Seed in Husk. 




Fig. 2.— Mango Seedlings in 6-Inch Concrete Tiles; Plants on Left Grown 
from Seed in Husk, on Right from Seed with Husk Removed. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt. Station. 



Plate IV. 



















^ps%f- 


-**-Jjm 


isT's^i 


s- 










3* 


"^il 






k 1 ' 




IfW fl If&^K^I 




^fra^W 


_ 












13 

rows should be made 4 feet apart, with the plants 1£ feet apart in 
the row, to allow room for grafting and for the removal of a ball 
of earth with the roots in transplanting. Where the soil is not per- 
fectly drained, as at the station, ridges sufficiently high to insure 
good drainage should be made. Only the largest and best seed should 
be planted. If the soil is fertile, an occasional cultivation will be the 
only care needed until grafting time — that is, in 7 to 9 months. 
Where all conditions are favorable, the grafted plants may be trans- 
planted within a few weeks or, if desired, they may remain in the 
nursery for many months. 

Mango trees may be successfully transplanted if rainfall is abun- 
dant or irrigation water is at hand and the branches are all well 
hardened. A large percentage of loss has resulted from transplant- 
ing when the trees were in a growing condition or the new growth 
was not well matured, although all branches were well cut back. In 
transplanting, a ball of earth should be removed with the tree and the 
top cut back severely. Where this practice was followed, not only 
nursery stock, but grafted trees of East Indian varieties with trunks 
from 4 to 6 inches in diameter which had borne two crops of fruit, 
were moved without loss. As newly transplanted trees are very sus- 
ceptible to excessive moisture, they should, unless the subsoil is very 
well drained, be planted as high as they grew in the nursery, or 
higher. They must, however, be watered artificially if a drought 
occurs soon after transplanting. 

IMPORTANCE OF CLASSIFICATION. 

The present -confusion in classification as to groups and varieties 
of mangoes is so great that, although considerable interest is being 
shown in the work, a long period will be required before a satisfac- 
tory adjustment is reached. As comparatively few imported varie- 
ties have so far fruited in Porto Rico no attempt at classification is 
made in this bulletin, only a detailed description of the fruit being 
given under the names received with trees from the United States 
Department of Agriculture and from other reliable sources. As 
the East Indian mango is almost unknown in Porto Pico except by 
name, and as there are few individuals who are familiar with any of 
the varieties the descriptions given below should be of value, since 
the cultivation of the mango will, doubtless, become important in a 
few years. The distinguishing characters of the several varieties 
are so pronounced that a knowledge of the differences is very impor- 
tant to merchants and planters who wish to satisfy the needs and 
fancies of domestic and foreign markets. Fortunately, most im- 
ported varieties are easily identified, there being a wide range of 
thrift and productiveness among them and still greater differences in 
the qualities of the fruits and the uses to which they can be put. 



16 

The tree is thrifty, but has been late in coming into full bearing. 
With a reputation gained elsewhere for poor keeping and shipping 
qualities this variety can not as yet be recommended for commercial 
planting at a long distance from a market. 

Bulbulchasm. 1 — Fruits of this variety (PI. VI, fig. 1) are kidney 
shaped or oblong with a nearly round cross section. A fruit weigh- 
ing 1 pound is 5 inches long, 3£ inches wide, and 3 inches thick; 10 
to 20 ounce fruits are not uncommon. The base is usually rounded 
with 3 to 5 shallow depressions extending outward from the stem; 
the ventral shoulder is more prominent than the dorsal. The nak 
is a dark russet speck situated 1 inch above the rounded apex and at 
the apex of a slightly raised V-shaped area; the surface is smooth, 
with a heavy white bloom ; the color a dull yellow tinged with green 
and having a deep, purplish-red or bronze blush when grown in the 
sun ; the dots generally light gray, small, and numerous toward the 
apex, those toward the base being larger and more scattered with 
russet centers; the skin thick but not tough, somewhat dry and 
tenacious though growing rather loosely over the flesh. These quali- 
ties prevent the fruit from being easily bruised. 

The flesh is plentiful and smooth in texture, with fiber practically 
wanting; that near the skin is rich yellow in color and lacking in 
juice, while that near the seed is deeper yellow and more juicy. 
The flavor is sweet, rich, aromatic, and satisfying, and the quality 
is good. 

The tree is low, round-topped, and dense, with a few main 
branches but numerous stout terminal branches, all of which grow 
at a wide angle from the parent branch. The leaf, heavy, tough, 
and dark green in color is 10 by 2 inches, with an acuminate tip. 
Trees of this variety produce fruit at an early age, are regular and 
fairly prolific bearers, and make a satisfactory growth for a few 
years ; but a number of them under observation have developed large 
swellings at the points of branching and occasionally at internodes, 
which ultimately interfere with their development. 

Cambodiana. 2 — The general form of Cambodiana (PI. VI, fig. 2) is 
ovoid, with a depression along the lower half of the ventral side 
which makes it somewhat kidney-shaped. Both longitudinal and 
lateral cross sections are ovate, narrowing at the apex and ventral 
side. A representative marketable fruit weighing 10 ounces is 4$ 
inches long, 3 inches wide, and 2£ inches thick. There is much 
variation in weight of fruit, some specimens weighing 5 ounces, 
others 1 pound. The base is rounded and the ventral shoulder, which 

J S. P. I. No. 9519. From Saharanpur, united provinces of Agra and Oudh, India. 
U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 66 (1905), p. 285. 

* S. P. I. No. 8701. From Saigon, Cochin China. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indua. 
Bui. 66 (1905), p. 216. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt. Station. 



Plate V. 




Fig. 1.— Bennett Mango. 




Fig. 2.— Paheri Mango. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt. Station 



Plate VI 




FlQ. 1.— BULBULCHASM MANGO. 




Fig. 2.— Cambodiana Mango. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt Station. 



Plate VII. 




Fig. 1.— Daws Mango. 




Fig. 2.— Divine Mango. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. ExdI Staixn 



Plate VIII. 




FlQ. 1.— ITAMARACA MANGO. 




Fic. 2.— Mullqoa Mango. 



17 

is made more prominent by a broad, low ridge extending from near 
the base to beyond the shoulder, is more prominent than the dorsal. 
The apex is acute, the beak wanting, and the nak a small russet 
speck on a low longitudinal ridge £ inch in length and £ inch above 
the apex. The surface is smooth; the color a rich yellow thinly 
marbled with green when first ripe and specked and spotted when 
overripe; the dots numerous and dark russet, varying in size; the 
bloom white and thin. The skin is thin,' weighing about 1 ounce 
in representative fruits, and rather tender, separating easily from 
the flesh. The flesh is tender, pale, or deep yellow, depending upon 
the stage of ripeness and tree variation, lighter near the skin, very 
juicy, and entirely free from fiber except for a thin strip along 
the upper ventral side of the seed. The flavor is sweet, aromatic, 
spicy, smooth, and pleasing. The seed is medium to large in size. 

The tree is a vigorous grower, tall and spreading, sometimes coni- 
cal ; the central branches are long, inclined to be slender and flexible 
and dividing into few terminal branches, leaving the top open. The 
leaves are a lighter green than in most other varieties and vary 
greatly in size. Normally they are large and broad, measuring 11 
by 2f inches. Leaves 20 inches in length are not rare on young, 
vigorous trees. A pronounced depression follows the veins to near 
the leaf margin. The leaf terminates in a long acuminate tip. 

This variety fruits early and is a regular and prolific bearer. The 
fruits are free from blemishes, uniformly colored, very attractive, 
and among the best in flavor and quality. This is one of the most 
desirable sorts for home use in Porto Rico, but the tender skin may 
prevent its shipping well. As the fruits are attacked by fruit flies, 
they must be bagged in seasons when the flies are numerous. 

Davy's. 1 — This variety (PI. VII, fig. 1) has an oval or plump 
kidney-shaped fruit weighing 8 to 14 ounces; the base and apex 
are rounded; the surface is smooth; the color dull greenish- 
yellow until fully ripe and then a dull orange-yellow without 
blush; the dots large, numerous, light colored, sometimes having 
black centers; the skin thick and very tough; the flesh very rich 
orange in color and rather dry, especially near the skin ; the fiber not 
objectionable, although a heavy coat f inch long covers the seed. 
The flavor is subacid and, although never rich, is pleasant when 
the fruit is entirely ripe. The appearance of the fruit and the 
quality of the skin and flesh are well suited for commercial use, 
but the trees have not been prolific, individuals 9 years old having 
borne only a few fruits each. 

1 S. P. I. No. 9522. From Saharanpur, united provinces of Agra and Oudh, India. 
U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 66 (1905), p. 285. 



18 

The tree is easily identified by its low, regular, spreading, dome- 
shaped form and its very dense growth of small rich green leaves, 
about 8 inches long by If inches wide, which are smooth, flat, and 
lanceolate in form. 

Divine.* — The general form of the fruit of Divine (PI. Vll, fig. 
2) is ovoid, with a broad ridge extending along the lower two-thirds 
of the ventral side and terminating at the nak in a wedge shape. 
The typical fruit is uniform in size and shape, being 8 ounces in 
weight, 3^ inches long, 2$ inches wide, and 2£ inches thick. The 
stem is medium in length, slender, and obliquely inserted; the base 
rounded ; the ventral shoulder slightly more prominent than the dor- 
sal ; the cavity narrow and furrowed ; the apex rounded and inclined 
to be hooked at the nak; the nak slightly depressed and situated f 
inch above the apex and 1 inch from the longitudinal center. The 
greater part of the surface is roughened by numerous large, irrupted, 
russet spots; the color is greenish yellow with a dull red blush 
covering the base; the dots light, numerous, and very small, many 
having russet centers; the bloom wanting; the skin thick, weighing 
1£ ounces, but not tough, separating easily from the fruit with a 
very thin layer of flesh clinging to it when removed. The flesh is a 
golden yellow when fully ripe, soft, characterless, juicy, and prac- 
tically free from fiber (that which is present being short and 
coarse) ; the flavor sweet and rich, but strong and unpleasing to some 
individuals ; the seed medium sized, oval, and flat. 

The tree makes a slow growth and is open, spreading, usually 
round-topped and irregular in shape, producing a lighter crop of 
leaves than most varieties. The leaves, which measure 9 by If inches, 
are narrow, flat, and tough, with obtuse tips. 

This variety is an early, regular, and rather prolific bearer, with 
fruits free from attacks of the fruit fly, but too small and unattrac- 
tive for commercial use. The flavor and texture of the fruit make 
it a second choice for home planting. 

Itamaraca. 2 — The fruit of this variety (PI. VIII, fig. 1) is flat- 
tened with a short longitudinal axis, the weight usually ranging 
from 6 to 7 ounces. A 6£-ounce fruit is 2f inches from base to apex, 
3£ inches wide, and 2f inches thick; the base is rounded; the 
shoulders prominent, the ventral shoulder being divided by a broad 
shallow suture; the cavity deep, broad, and obtuse; the surface 
smooth, greenish yellow, with a thin, dark red blush at the base; 
the dots small, white, and numerous ; the skin moderately thick and 
rather tough, separating easily and freely from the flesh. The 

1 S. P. I. No. 21516. From Port of Spain, Trinidad. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant 
Indus. Bui. 132 (1908), p. 161. 

2 S. P. I. No. 23426. From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. TJ. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. 
Bui. 148 (1909), p. 14. 



19 

flesh is juicy and rich yellow in color, with little fiber except a 
large tuft on the ventral margin of the seed. The flavor is subacid 
spicy, and aromatic, but not so pleasant as that of many other varie- 
ties. 

The tree comes into bearing quite early and is very productive. 
Its season is late, the fruit ripening from August 5 to September 10 
in normal years. The good quality of its fruit, its prolificacy, and its 
late ripening season make this a desirable variety for home use, but 
it is too small to be suited to present marketing conditions. 

Mullgoa. 1 — The Mullgoa (PI. VIII, fig. 2) is generally rounded in 
form and large in size, a typical fruit weighing 22 ounces and 
measuring 44 by 4£ by 4-£ inches. The stem is long, stout, and 
squarely inserted ; the base broad and flattened, sometimes having a 
shallow, broad cavity; the ventral shoulder slightly prominent and 
divided by a broad distinct suture; the apex rounded; the nak small 
and often prominent; the surface dark greenish-yellow, spotted, 
and roughened by nettings of dark russet which extend over the 
basal half of the fruit and give it the appearance of old leather. 
The skin is thick but not tough, and when it is torn off, an equal 
thickness of flesh clings to it; the flesh is tender and very juicy, 
greenish-yellow near the skin and light yellow near the seed; a 
very short fiber covers the seed; the seed is small with very thick, 
tough husk ; the flavor is subacid, rich but somewhat strong, and not 
so pleasant as that of a number of other varieties. 

The tree makes a moderately slow growth and has an open, spread- 
ing top, the main branches being few and irregular in growth, with 
numerous slender, flexible terminal branches which produce only a 
small crop of small, slender leaves. The trees come into bearing 
early and they are regular but not prolific bearers. The fruit ripens 
at Mayaguez late in August and early in September, thus maturing 
later than any variety tested except Sufaida. 

This variety must not be confused with Mulgoba, as in both ap- 
pearance and quality it is very distinct and somewhat inferior to it. 

Sandersha. 2 — This variety (PI. IX, fig. 1) has a long fruit, the 
upper half tapering toward the stem, especially on the dorsal side, 
where the shoulder is often wanting; the plump lower part ter- 
minates in a prominent beak. The weight is 1, 2, and occasionally 
3 pounds, with an average of 18 to 24 ounces, a 20-ounce fruit meas- 
uring 6 by 3§ by 3§ inches. The cavity is wanting; the apex rounded 
with a prominent beak three-fourths to 1 inch from the longitudinal 
apex; the nak a small russet speck at the prominent beak; the surface 
smooth, light yellow in color, with a thin, dull pink blush in the sun; 

1 S. P. I. No. 7102. From Bangalore, India. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 
66 (1905), p. 131. 

- H. P. I. No. 7108. From Bangalore, India. U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 
66 (1905), p. 131. 



20 

the dots numerous, small, and whitish, a small percentage of them 
russeted in the center; the bloom thin and white; the skin fairly 
thick but not tough, separating easily from the flesh ; the flesh light 
yellow until very ripe, when it becomes reddish-yellow, especially 
in the interior, moderately juicy, elastic rather than melting in tex- 
ture; fiber almost wanting; the aroma strong and unpleasant; the 
flavor subacid, sprightly, strong, but not so rich or pleasing as that of 
some other varieties. The quality of the fruit makes it suitable for 
chutney and pickles. If taken from the tree just before or when first 
starting to soften and allowed to ripen slowly in a cool, airy place, 
the fruits develop an attractive appearance and pleasant flavor. 
The seed husk is long, slender, and flat, with a medium-sized kernel 
in the central part of the husk, leaving both ends flat and thin. 

The trees are flat-topped, spreading, and open, with the lateral 
branches often bending downward. The heavy loads of fruit have 
considerable influence on the shape. The leaves are large, broad (11 
by 3 inches), flat, smooth, tough, and rather thick, with veins promi- 
nent on the upper as well as on the lower surface. This variety 
fruits when 3 or 4 years old and is the most regular and prolific 
bearer that has fruited at this station. It ripens later than any other 
variety except Sufaida and Mullgoa. 

Sans Pareille. 1 — This variety is rounded at the base with the sides 
tapering toward a blunt wedge-shaped apex. A good fruit weighs 
from 14 to 16 ounces, a 15-ounce fruit measuring 4£ inches long, 3£ 
inches wide, and 3£ inches thick. The cavity is very narrow and 
shallow; the apex oval with a broad, nearly indistinct beak; the 
surface smooth and dull yellowish-bronze, with much of the green 
color remaining in the skin until the fruit is fully ripe; the skin very 
thin and of average toughness; the flesh abundant, rich orange at 
the apex, yellow at the base, tender and tenacious rather than brittle, 
very juicy, especially near the seed; the flavor rich and sweet but 
strong and unpleasant; fiber absent except for a small area on the 
seed margin; the seed small and thin, with a thin, easily torn seed 
coat. 

This variety blossoms very early, matures slowly, and ripens from 
June to July. The tree is prolific but not vigorous and has been the 
slowest grower among the many kinds tested here, reaching only 8 
feet in height at 7 years of age. It has slender branches, with small, 
slender leaves. Sans Pareille can not be recommended for planting 
in Porto Rico. 

Martinique. 1 — This variety (PL IX, fig. 2) resembles Sans Pareille 
very closely in all particulars, except that the sides of the fruits are 
more flattened and there is usually a broader, more prominent beak 
divided by a shallow, V-shaped depression. The trees are prolific, 

1 From Martinique, West Indies. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt. Station. 



Plate IX. 




Fig. 1.— Sandersha Mango. 




Fig. 2.— Martinique Mango. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt. Station. 



Plate X. 




Fig. 1.— Sufaida Mango. 




Fig. 2.— Totafari Mango. 



21 

but make a slow and unsatisfactory growth. The fruit is very 
inferior in flavor. 

Sufaida. 1 — -The fruit of this variety (PI. X, fig. 1) is kidney 
shaped, the longitudinal cross section oval, the lateral cross section 
usually oval, although the fruit is sometimes flattened at the sides; 
the size is large, with a range of 24 to 36 and occasionally 40 ounces, 
a 26-ounce fruit measuring G^ inches long, 4| inches wide, and 3£ 
inches thick; the stem long and obliquely inserted; the base rounded; 
the ventral shoulder narrow and very prominent; the cavity shallow 
when present ; the apex narrow, rounded, or pointed and beaked ; 
the nak very small, situated f to 1£ inches above the apex ; the sur- 
face smooth, greenish-yellow, never blushed, faintly marked be- 
low the epidermis, with thin green, branching, almost transparent 
nettings that become shorter and finer near the apex ; the dots numer- 
ous, medium sized, round, and light, with light russet centers; the 
bloom heavy, white, and not easily removed; the skin very thin, 
easily torn, but separating easily from the flesh; the flesh dark yellow 
or orange near the apex, becoming lighter yellow near the seed and 
toward the base; the flesh of good quality and medium juiciness; 
the fiber scarce, short, stiff, and coarse; the flavor sweet, refreshing, 
pleasant, and fairly rich. 

The tree is a vigorous grower, with a large oval or dome-shaped 
top and very regular and dense foliage. The leaves are large, broad 
(11 by 3f inches), rather thin, and flexible, with deep furrows 
following the veins to near the leaf margin. 

This variety has been a regular but not prolific bearer. The 
fruits often crack open before they are ripe — a trouble most preva- 
lent when the tree has a very light crop. Ripening from August 20 
until late in September, this variety has a later fruiting season than 
any other tested in Porto Rico. 

Totafari. 2 — In form the fruit of this variety (PI. X, fig. 2) is oval, 
except for a large rounded beak and depressions in the lower ventral 
side extending to the beak; the size usually large, though varying 
considerably with the size of the crop, the normal weight being from 
12 to 18 ounces, a fruit of 14 ounces measuring 4| by 3f by 2| inches ; 
the base rounded; the cavity flat or ridged, with low, broad ridges 
about 1 inch wide; the apex a rounded oval with a prominent, 
rounded beak; the nak very prominent, -J inch above the apex and 
1 inch to the ventral side of the vertical center; the surface very 
smooth, light yellow in color, and, until fully ripe, very light yellow 
striped and mottled with green, developing, when exposed to the 
sun, an uneven bright pink blush which is very attractive; the dots 

1 S. P. I. No. 9516. From Saharanpur, united provinces of Agra and Oudh, India. 
U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 66 (1905), p. 285. 

2 S. P. I. No. 8732. Prom Bombay, India. U. i. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 
66 (1905), p. 219. 



22 

large, numerous, black on the upper half of the fruit but small and 
light near the apex; the skin thick, tough, and easily removed with 
a layer of flesh clinging to it; the flesh a bright yellow, very juicy, 
and without fiber, except for a thin strip on the ventral margin of 
the seed ; the flavor subacid, spicy, and very agreeable. 

The tree is a vigorous grower, open and spreading in habit. It 
comes into bearing at two or three years after grafting, and is a 
regular and prolific bearer, the fruit of an individual tree being 
uniform in size for a given crop. The fruits are sometimes attacked 
by fruit flies, though seldom seriously. They keep well after picking, 
and are attractive and suitable for both home and market use. 

PORTO RICAN TYPES. 

In different sections of Porto Rico the same type of native mango 
is frequently known under several names, while just as frequently 
various types are given the same name. In spite of the resulting 
confusion and duplication of terms, it has been found that the most 
important native sorts do not grow in all sections but are for the 
most part confined to comparatively small areas, probably because 
of climatic conditions. In these given areas practically all trees of 
a certain type, although seedlings, produce remarkably uniform 
fruit, often as much so as that of grafted trees. Their fruit is 
frequently inferior to imported varieties, although most of them 
produce plants which are very satisfactory for stocks. The following 
are descriptions of the most desirable kinds and those most commonly 
found for sale at markets : 

Blanco. — This is a type (PI. XI, fig. 1) found most commonly in 
the western part of the island, practically all of the mango trees in 
some localities belonging to it (PI. I, fig. 2). The most prolific and 
popular of the Porto Eican mangoes, it is the principal one used 
for shipment to the different towns of the island. The fruit is oval 
and plump, with a narrow, flattened cavity and broad, low, V-shaped 
beak. The skin, smooth, tough, and light yellow in color, adheres to 
the flesh; the flesh is yellow and juicy, comprising only two-thirds 
of the total weight of the fruit and having a sweet, pleasing flavor, 
not strong with turpentine but without richness. The seed is large 
and the fiber long, coarse, and plentiful. An average fruit weighs 
about 7 ounces and measures 3£ inches long, 2f inches wide, and 2£ 
inches thick. 

Mangotina— This kind (PI. XI, fig. 1) is found most commonly 
near Ponce. The fruit is rounded and plump, weighing about 5| 
ounces and measuring 2f inches long by 2£ inches wide. It resembles 
Blanco, but differs in being blushed over a broader area. The skin 
is thin, the fiber long and plentiful, and the flavor of second quality 
among Porto Eican mangoes. 



Redondo. — This fruit (PI. XI, fig. 1) weighs about 7 ounces and 
is 3£ inches long and 2f inches broad. A heavy, attractive, dark-red 
blush covers one side, and the dark-red color extends thinly over the 
yellowish-green ground color on the opposite side. The flesh is 
tender and juicy, the fiber long and abundant, the flavor pleasant, 
but lacking in richness and quality. 

Largo. — This type, which is very common in the southwestern part 
of the island, has a small oval fruit (PL XI, fig. 1), weighing about 
5 ounces, with a thin tough skin separating easily from the meat. 
It is an unattractive fruit, the color being green blotched with dull 
yellow, the flavor sweet, but decidedly like turpentine, and the fiber 
long, coarse, and abundant. 

Pina. — The most common of the types known by this "name (PL 
XI, fig. 2) is found on the western part of the island. The fruit is 
long, plump, and tapering toward the base. It is about 5 inches long 
by 3 inches wide and distinctly beaked. The dull-yellow, unblushed 
skin is smooth and separates easily from the flesh. The flesh, a rich 
yellow in color, lacks juiciness and has an abundance of coarse fiber. 
The flavor is sweet but not rich. 

WEIGHTS OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF FRUITS OF IMPORTED AND 
NATIVE TYPES OF MANGOES. 

The table given below T shows the weight of the different parts of 
normal fruits of a number of imported and native mangoes pro- 
duced in Porto Rico. All of the imported varieties are from the 
Orient, except Divine from Trinidad, Sans Pareille from Mar- 
tinique, and Itamaraca from South America. 

Weight of different parts and percentage of edible portion of fruits of imported 
and native types of mangoes. 



Imported varieties: 

Amini 

Bennett 

Cambodiana . . . 

Mullgoa 

Sandersha 

Sufaida 

Totafari 

Divine 

Sans Pareille . . 

ItamaracA 

Porto Rican kinds: 

Blanco 

Mangotina 

Redondo 

Largo 



Weight of 
whole 
fruit. 



Ounces. 

8 
13 
10 
22 
20 
26 
14 

8 
15 

81 

7 

51 
7 
5i 



Weight of 
skin 



Ounces. 
11 
1J 

4 

3| 

3 

21 

II 

H 

11 

H 

If 

11 
1 



Weight of 
seed. 



Ounces. 
11 
11 
11 

2* 

2i 
If 
1 

1* 

11 

1 

H 
if 



Weight of 
flesh. 



Ounces. 
5| 



15 

21| 
11 

51 
12| 

41 



Amount 
of flesh in 

whole 

fruit. 



Per cent. 
70 
76 
74 
77 
75 
83 
79 
69 
83 
63 

61 
61 
66 
55 



24 
PROTECTION AGAINST FRUIT FLIES. 

A fruit fly (Anastrepha fraterculus) 1 is very common in Porto Rico 
and very injurious to fruits of some varieties of both wild and im- 
ported mangoes. As it breeds in other wild fruits, some of which 
bear throughout the year, it would be very difficult to eradicate or 
control. As the fly seldom attacks the fruit before it commences to 
ripen, injury can be easily and cheaply prevented by bagging the 
fruit with paper just after it has attained full size but before it has 
started to soften. The cheapest quality of bags may be used, several 
hundred of which can be placed by one person in a day, A small 
hole should be made in the bottom of the bag to allow water entering 
on the fruit stem to drain out, as this will otherwise collect and 
burst the bag. While the paper covering hinders to some extent the 
development of the red blush on varieties normally blushed, it pro- 
tects the bloom, prevents sunburn, and gives a more even and deli- 
cate blush, all of which adds to the attractiveness of the fruit. The 
imported varieties most commonly attacked by the fruit fly are Cam- 
bodiana, Totafari, and Sandersha, although in some years the injury 
is not serious enough to necessitate protection. 

Except for thrips, which are very detrimental to young pot and 
nursery trees, the fruit fly is the only insect pest of the mango which 
has thus far been of importance in Porto Rico. 

HARVESTING AND PACKING. 

As the mango is edible during only a rather short period and is 
easily bruised, it is important that no fruit should be packed for 
shipment or stored with the expectation of its remaining long in good 
condition if it has been bruised or injured in any way. If properly 
taken from the tree, placed in a crate cushioned with some suitable 
material, such as excelsior, and not allowed to be bruised by the 
weight of other fruit the mango may be expected to remain sound 
for a reasonably long period. 

REMOVING THE FRUIT FROM THE TREE. 

In harvesting fruit which is not fully ripe, a stem slightly longer 
than the fruit stalk should be left, as the high pressure generated in 
the fruit while on the tree will force a spray of juice through the 
large cells of the fruit stalk the instant it is severed, a jet of juice 
sometimes being thrown several feet from the fruit and continuing 
to flow for a few seconds. After curing a few minutes the large cells 
of the fruit stalk are emptied and form open passages into the base 
of the fruit, where decay soon starts. 

1 Porto Rico Sta. Rpt 1912, p. 3Q. 



Bui. 24, Porto Rico Agr. Expt. Station. 



Plate XI. 




Fig. 1.— Upper, Left to Right, Largo, Mangotina; Lower, Redondo from Ponce, 

and Blanco. 




Fig. 2.— Upper, Left to Right, Redondo from Anasco, and Toro; Lower, Pina 
from Mayaguez, and Pina from Anasco. 



TYPES OF PORTO RICAN MANGOES. 



25 

To test the effect of cutting the stems too short when harvesting, 
two lots of 100 fruits each, which had colored but had not started to 
soften, were taken from the tree, wrapped in newspaper, and stored 
at a temperature ranging from 80 to 83° F. Long stems were left 
on one lot wfiile the fruit stalks of the other were cut near the fruits. 
Six days later an examination showed that 12 of the fruits with long 
and 61 with short stems were decaying. The bending of the long 
steins in handling probably caused injury, as a number of the decay- 
ing specimens were affected at the base. A large percentage of the 
fruits had small discolored skin spots at the time of examination, 
which is characteristic of this and other native types of mangoes a 
few days after harvest. When fruits are allowed to ripen on the 
tree the internal pressure is so reduced as to make the length of the 
stem unimportant. 

WRAPPING FRUIT FOR STORING. 

To determine the value of a few common materials for use in wrap- 
ping fruits for storage, lots of 100 fruits of the common variety 
Blanco were wrapped in each of the following materials: Orange 
wrapping paper, newspaper, oil paper, and coconut fiber. One lot 
of fruit was exposed to the open air as a check. The fruits were two- 
thirds colored when harvested and would have begun to soften in 
a very few days if they had been left on the tree. 

Results of tests tvith different wrapping materials. 



Wrapping materials. 



Eighth day. 



Number 
of fruits 
partly 
green. 



Number 
of fruits 
yellow. 



Number 
of fruits 
decaying, 



Eleventh day. 



Number 
of fruits 
yellow. 



Number 
of fruits 
decaying. 



Orange wrapping paper 

Newspaper 

Oil paper 

Coconut fiber 

Check 



The above table shows that the fruit in the orange wraps ripened 
more slowly and remained in good condition longer than the other 
lots and that the fruit packed in coconut fiber ripened more quickly 
and decayed earlier than the other lots. There was no marked effect 
of the other materials on the keeping qualities of the fruit. 



MANGO STORAGE. 



From observations on the few imported mangoes which have 
fruited in Porto Rico, it appears that the flavor and keeping quali- 
ties of different varieties depend very much upon the stage of ripe- 



26 

ness at which the fruit was removed from the tree, and careful tests 
should therefore be made to determine the proper degree of maturity 
for harvesting fruit of each individual variety which will suit it to 
the use for which it is intended. For eating fresh, the fruit of all 
varieties, with the possible exception of Sandersha, should be allowed 
to color fully and to begin softening on the tree, while fruit for 
marketing should be taken from the tree at the stage of maturity at 
which it will resist decay longest — that is, before it is fully colored 
or has begun to soften, the fruit of most varieties having sufficient 
merit to warrant its sale at satisfactory prices if so harvested. With 
the varieties Amini, Divine, Sans Pareille, and possibly others, the 
fruits develop too strong a flavor to be palatable if left to ripen fully 
on the tree. 

STORAGE TESTS. 

The following summary of results from storage tests of a number 
of varieties indicates the proper time for harvesting where a long 
or short period is to elapse before the fruit is to be consumed. In 
these tests long steins were left on the fruits and all were wrapped 
in paper. Where sufficient fruit was available, the tests were made 
in both warm and cold rooms. In the warm storage room, a tem- 
perature of 80° to 83° F. was maintained, and in the cold room, 
which is an ice storage room, the temperature varied from 40° to 47°. 

Amini. — Two lots of this variety were placed in the warm room, 
one of 50 fruits taken from the tree in edible condition, the other of 
50 fruits of mature size and light yellow color, all of the green hav- 
ing disappeared from the skin, but which had not started to soften 
on the tree. In four days 5 of the first lot showed decayed spots, and 
in six days 14 were affected, the other specimens having somewhat 
lost their characteristic flavor. Of the second lot, one fruit showed 
de^ay on the seventh day after storing and 11 were slightly dis- 
colored by the tenth day. All specimens of this variety developed 
a very attractive color in storage. 

Two lots of this variety, in the same condition as those tested in 
the warm room, were placed in the cold room also. Eleven days 
after storing small decaying spots appeared on a few of the speci- 
mens which were ripe when harvested, but the flesh was palatable, 
the flavor and texture having undergone no perceptible deteriora- 
tion. A few of these specimens were still in good condition 18 
days after storing, but the skins of most of them had become dis- 
colored. The fruits harvested just before they had started to soften 
developed a rich yellow color in 10 days, but were still firm. They 
were ripe 10 days later and remained palatable for 6 days. Full- 
sized fruits picked just as they started to color remained apparently 
unchanged in the cold room for four weeks, the flesh then slowly 



27 

softening, but decay spotted the skins and their color and flavor were 
unsatisfactory for market. 

Cambodiana. — Twenty fruits which had ripened and fallen into 
bags attached to the branches were stored in the warm room and in 
five days three were showing decay and the flesh of others was soft 
and watery but of fair flavor. Of 20 fruits harvested when over 
half the surface was soft, all were fully ripe in six days, 3 having 
started to discolor, while on the eighth day many were still in good 
condition with flavor and color not inferior to fruits ripened on the 
tree. Another lot of 20 fruits harvested when about half colored 
but still firm and placed in the warm storage room, remained in good 
condition for eight days, except two fruits which decayed apparently 
from bruises. On the tenth day the remaining specimens were in 
good edible condition and their smooth, spotless, yellow skins and 
rich yellow flesh made them especially attractive. 

In the cold room, fruits which had become entirely ripe on the 
tree were too soft and watery ; i 6 days to be considered first class, 
while all those which had colored but had not started to soften on 
the tree had developed a typical ripe color and were of good edible 
quality 19 days after storing, but by the twenty-sixth day darkened 
areas were appearing on the skin and outer flesh and the flavor had 
somewhat deteriorated. Full-grown specimens which had just 
started to color on the tree became whitish-yellow in 16 days and 
softened in 26 days, but they were inferior in flavor and color to 
those that had colored on the tree. 

Totafari. — Thirty fruits of this variety, harvested when of mature 
size and three-fourths colored but not yet starting to soften, were 
stored in the warm room. All were of excellent marketable color 
and quality eight days later, except four specimens which became 
discolored in four days possibly from small breaks in the skins due 
to handling. Fifty full-sized fruits harvested when first showing 
maturity in color ripened and remained in excellent condition for 
12 days. On the fifteenth day 16 were slightly discolored, and the 
flesh of others was watery and less palatable than when first ripe. 

In the cold room 19 out of 20 fruits of this variety which had 
ripened on the tree were unblemished by decay 11 days after storing. 
Other specimens picked when all the green color in the skin had 
disappeared, but several days before they would have begun to soften, 
remained apparently unchanged for 14 days. Xo decay was ob- 
served until the twenty-fourth day after harvesting, at which time 
and for nearly two weeks later the fruits were little inferior in color 
and flavor to tree-ripened specimens. 

Sandersha. — Of 50 well-colored specimens harvested just before 
they started to soften and placed in the warm room, all but eight 
were free from decay and in condition for eating nine days later, 



28 

remaining so for three days. A duplicate lot of fruit in the cold 
room developed a good flavor and remained in good physical con- 
dition for nearly five weeks. The flavor and appearance of these 
fruits were better than that of tree-ripened specimens. Full-sized 
fruit which had not started to color on the tree turned a light yellow 
and softened within 12 days after being placed in the warm room, 
but they did not develop a pleasant flavor. Those of the same age 
remained apparently unchanged for over two months in the cold 
room, finally developing dark, softened spots in the skins, although 
the flesh was still hard and brittle. Fruits which had become soft 
on the tree lost none of their flavor after remaining in the cold room 
for 15 days, although by this time dark spots were appearing on 
the skins. 

Divine. — Forty of the 50 specimens of Divine, which were har- 
vested when they first began to soften and left in common storage, 
were still in edible condition six days later, although a number of 
them had developed dark spots in the skins and were not attractive. 

Bennett. — Specimens of Bennett harvested when mellow on one 
side and three-fourths colored, still had an excellent flavor and had 
just started to discolor after seven days in the warm room, while 
fruits taken from the tree when half colored and ready to soften 
developed an excellent color and flavor and showed no decay after v 
eight days, retaining their good flavor a few days longer. 

Blanco. — Two lots of this variety, which is the most plentiful and 
most desirable of the wild Porto Kican kinds, were tested at the 
high and the low temperatures. In the warm room colored fruits 
which had not started to soften when taken from the tree were ripe 
in four days. Two days later 40 per cent of the lot were blemished 
by decay, and the flesh was soft and watery. In the cold room the 
fruits became spotted with decay in seven days, before they were 
ripe enough for eating. Tree-ripened fruit started to decay on the 
fifth day in the cold room and were badly decayed in four days at 
the higher temperature. 

The very poor keeping quality of this variety is typical of all the 
common Porto Rican varieties. Although the fruits were carefully 
selected and packed, dark spots appeared in the skins in a very few 
days and rendered the fruits unsatisfactory for market. 

MANGOES AS ORNAMENTALS. 

The mango is doubtless the most beautiful and generally satis- 
factory of trees for beautifying land spaces and for general orna- 
mental planting in Porto Rico. Of large size, symmetrical shape, 
and hardy, thrifty growth, they are dependable in all seasons, and 
the new leaves with their changing shades, appearing at intervals 
throughout the year, are more attractive and more desirable for 



29 

ornamental use than the blossoms of most other trees in Porto Rico. 
Fortunately, the imported varieties which produce fruit of high 
quality are most desirable as ornamentals, as there is a great vari- 
ation in the habits of growth and color of the foliage among them. 
For avenues and boundaries any of the large growing, vigorous kinds 
are satisfactory, but for planting singly on lawns or in parks varieties 
suited to the peculiar needs should be selected. For the latter pur- 
pose Cambodiana, a tall, open tree, with large, light-green leaves 
tinged with yellow; Davj^'s, a low, compact tree with medium-sized 
leaves of dark-green color; Madras, a very graceful, symmetrical, 
upright tree with small bluish-green leaves; and Peters, a round- 
topped, dense-growing tree with large, very dark-green leaves, are 
among the varieties which should receive first consideration. 

SUMMARY. 

The common mango of Porto Rico, which is one of the most 
important fruits of the island, is not cultivated but grows wild in 
all localities. Superior varieties lately imported have proved satis- 
factory and should be planted extensively for market and home use. 

Mango trees are adapted to a wide range of soil types and will 
grow satisfactorily in practically all Porto Rican soils, provided 
there is a good subdrainage. 

While the climate throughout the island is suitable for the growth 
of mango trees, in some localities, notably through the interior and 
along the northern slopes, rains are sometimes too frequent during 
the blossoming season to permit the setting of a good crop of fruit. 
Along the western and northern lowlands rainfall is light during 
the blossoming season and good crops are almost invariably secured. 

As the prevailing winds and morning sun seem to be very bene- 
ficial, both for growth of trees and setting of fruit, open, exposed 
sites should be selected for the mango orchard. 

Inarching and bark grafting, simple methods for asexual propaga- 
tion, are satisfactory both for use in the nursery and for top- 
working large trees. The important conditions in grafting are that 
the stock be just starting a new growth, the scion mature, and the 
buds ready or almost ready to open. 

Large seeds which produce only one plant are most satisfactory for 
stocks. The East Indian varieties produce larger and more thrifty 
plants, as a rule, than the native kinds. Both nursery and other 
mango trees may be transplanted successfully if they are not mak- 
ing a new growth and rainfall is plentiful. 

The present confusion in the classification of types of mangoes, 
as well as the great variation in growth and productiveness of trees, 
and quality of fruit, necessitates a thorough study of varieties before 
a mango orchard can be successfully planted in Porto Rico. 



30 

Among a number of imported varieties that have fruited here, the 
most productive of the thrifty kinds with fruits of high quality are 
Cambodiana, Totafari, Amini, Bennett, and Paheri. Cambodiana 
and Paheri are probably better suited to home than to commercial 
use. 

The trees of the few varieties from Martinique, Trinidad, and 
South America thus far tested lack vigor, while the fruits are either 
inferior in quality or too small to be promising for general planting. 
As regards size, flavor, fiber content, and keeping quality, the wild 
Porto Kican mangoes are less desirable than many imported kinds. 

In harvesting mangoes that have not softened on the tree, a stem 
longer than the fruit stalk should be left to prevent the juice from 
the base of the fruit from escaping through the fruit stalk and leav- 
ing passages for the entrance of infection. 

Fruits in orange wrapping paper did not ripen or decay so quickly 
as those wrapped in oil paper, newspaper, or coconut fiber, or those 
left in the open air. Fruits packed in coconut fiber ripened earliest. 

East Indian varieties showed much better keeping qualities than 
the native kinds. 

The mango is one of the most satisfactory ornamental trees for 
Porto Rico, as variations in habit of growth and color of foliage 
make it possible to select from varieties producing fruit of high 
quality those which best carry out a particular scheme of landscape 
gardening. 






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